G. David Felt

LOVE the El Camino's shade of blue OK, so I've researched the hell out of this one. Supposedly that Camino is painted in a "Corvette Dark Teal" which is a color I can't find. In 1969, GM supposedly offered a color called " Midnight Teal Metallic" that I can find no examples of. 1965 Chevelle "Tahitian Turquoise" is pretty close, as is 1967 Chevelle "Tahoe Turquoise". Those two are hard to tell apart from the pics I've seen. I remember seeing the '65 color, and memory says it has a lot of green in it. Both colors do, but the "65 looks more blue in the pics I've found while the '67 color looks more green in the pics. Those two colors are as close as I've gotten to the color of that Camino which is damn near perfect. If I go in this color direction, I'll be needing a tan or gray interior. Look at the 93-96 GMC Suburban line, My 94 has a beautiful Dark Teal paint job that GM did and I just love it. Yes the interior is a two tone gray and it just goes really well with this color.

An Aus CNG system probably wouldn't work in NA, though. Why? Would the fittings be compatible? Is the fuel compatible? Different countries, different markets..not to mention trying to get it certified by the EPA. Actually ALL CNG is standardized by the CSA International Governing body which the US has joined and goes by. Now you do have two different standards in PSIG, Canada does CNG auto's at 3000 PSIG as well as fork lifts, scissor lifts, etc at 3000. The US goes with the more common and efficient 3600 PSIG which Europe and Australia also follows. The other rare PSIG is 4200 which is more or less used in storage for fast fill solutions but some odd ball semi truck companies use it also. End result is you can take a 3000 PSIG fueling system and fuel a 3600 or 4200 PSI system, though you will not get a full load. 3600 can fuel itself and 4200 but not 3000 and of course the rare 4200 systems which no one that I know of is building any longer can fuel anything less than itself. The connections are all a universal size, but the pressure and internal match up is the difference. I have taken a generalized approach to explaining this to keep it easy to understand. Currently Canada and the few other countries that run the lower PSIG are considering changing, but then they are also running into resistance as the existing folks who have already invested in the older tech are fighting to keep it the same. Long term they will have to change as the industry is being consolidated by a very well financed investment group out of NY who is buying up all the CNG major players and building one global power house to supply all countries. They have standardized on 3600 along with all auto companies and industry companies major players like Hyster have all moved to building 3600 PSIG products, so they can hold it off for a little bit as 3000 is still being produced but by 2015 it will become a dead product as the globe standardizes on 3600 PSIG I believe. Now for my Conspiracy Theory, I suspect the Oil Companies are behind this major Investment firm who has been buying up all the major CNG players on each continent and consolidating to build a universal standard that everyone is jumping on. With North America having the worlds largest Natural Gas Reserves, Canada, US and Mexico have the biggest to gain in the new world order as Oil supplies dwindle to nothing.

Washington state has been approving small scale Hydro dames on rivers where fish could never really go up stream, perfect example is the latest new Hydro dam is on a river that falls into a 1500 foot tall falls. So since it does not block fish from going up stream, having a dam behind the falls allows us to capture the power and still keep the falls going and not affect the fish migration.

So big first question: Explain what the Hell SkyActive Technology is? Been to their web site and I still have nothing to grasp when I hear the term. What is it and why should I car? Second question, are there any other engine options, this engine seems very under powered for moving this meaty CUV. What is the comfort level of the seats? They look hard and flat, do they support you in aggressive driving? Over all impression of fit and finish? How about road noise when cruising versus around town driving?

Or do you mean FreeLoader? OK SUV, reliability is the big question mark. I have a hard time being able to recommend this product line to anyone.

G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - CheersandGears.com August 22, 2012 Alternative Energy, what is the logical next step for America Part II? Join me as I write about the various forms of alternative energy and how I see them stacking up in today’s market place. Green Fuel Solar The holy grail of the auto industry would be to have all autos have a body of solar panels that can create and store the energy and then use it to power the auto and all internal devices. The first solar car race was in 1983 a trek from Perth to Sydney Australia. In the 1987 race the GM Sunray car completed the 3010km trip with an average speed of 67kmh setting in motion a research and development race among solar teams. All this auto technology from one of the earliest forms of energy conversion. A step backwards to give you a little history lesson on Solar. The development of solar cell technology begins with the 1839 research of French physicist Antoine-César Becquerel. The first genuine solar cell was built around 1883 by Charles Fritts, who used junctions formed by coating selenium with an extremely thin layer of gold. Early solar cells had energy conversion efficiencies of less than one percent. In 1941, the silicon solar cell was invented by Russell Ohl. Three American researchers, Gerald Pearson, Calvin Fuller and Daryl Chapin, designed a silicon solar cell capable of a six percent energy conversion efficiency with direct sunlight in 1954. The first public service trial of the Bell Solar Battery began with a telephone carrier system (Americus, Georgia) on October 4 1955. Benefits of Solar are the ability to convert light into power which ends in an almost true zero emission. Creation of any product always has some form of greenhouse gas so no product is truly Zero Emissions. Yet with this said, lets list out the benefits of solar power: Minimal impact on the environment Requires little energy to run after initial build of the solar car. Reduces the need for petrol. One of the cheapest forms of power after initial investment to the end user. Draw backs to Solar Energy: Requires ultra-light auto’s, will not pass government crash test for safety. Expense, solar panels are still very expensive. Light, most places do not have 8hrs a day of pure sunlight. Efficiency of current panel technology. Unreliable power source. Unable to drive them at night. Damage risk, the ability to handle impacts from flying objects. While the potential for Solar is great and R&D is needed to get the most out of this source, it is far from prime time for use by the Auto Industry in anything other than novelty applications like a solar panel sun roof to drive the AC system when the car is parked to control internal temp. There are companies today that are making solar roof panels for autos as a way to help increase MPG in hybrid cars. An example is you can purchase a Solar Roof for the Prius that costs from $2000 to $4000 dollars per car depending on what you want to accomplish and in some cases the cost is even higher. http://www.solarelec...alvehicles.com/ The ROI or Return on Investment makes many at this time doubt it is worth it. If Self-sustainable solar transportation is to become a reality there will need to have major break throughs in both storage and efficiency of capturing the energy of the sun. For the US to reduce air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and move to a long term energy dependence solution, investments must be made in alternative energy solutions today. GM is pushing forward to at least use Solar in big ways to support their business. http://generalmotors...ward-solar-goal View full article

Thats OK, we all have one of those Blonde Moments every so often in life.

That is freakin funny! Guess she did not think that one through!

Brown Streaks

I personally think the VOLT drive train could be used in 3 flavors running on CNG in the New El Camino. You can have the Efficient VOLT El Camino as an entry level, Have a VOLT El Camino LT model with a bigger electric motor system for a bit more performance at a little drop in range Have a VOLT El Camino SS model with the focus being on performance but in a Hybrid design that still goes farther than a Nissan Leaf. Have all of them run the Engine on Compressed Natural Gas and you end up with the Cleanest Hybrid around. Prius would have nothing on this baby.

CNG

Natural Gas

WOW, All you east coast / mid west people need to learn to speak English! Probably due to the funky accents you find back there!

Stupidity knows no DNA line. I would tend to send an email to the dealership about this snafu as it is really sad that they cannot seem to get the right make and model on an auto listed properly on the paperwork. To me this just shouts laziness.

I think a DI 2.5L 4 banger would be a hit in the Eco car.

Pretty interesting auto, one thing that just pisses me off, I know delivery costs vary based on where it is going, but why not just ether always include the price based on average cost and state it could vary or have all auto companies leave it off and state delivery charge extra. It is really annoying to see some companies state a car cost including delivery and other state a cost plus delivery. Just have a freakin standard on advertising prices so people can properly compare them.

I just love me this pickup truck! This is some style, wish we had new auto's with style like this. They just all are bland. Perfect example is the Equinox is a nice great CUV, but bland in the style department and blends in with everything else but does follow Chevy style of their product family. Then you move to the GMC Terrain. This is a love it or hate it affair and I have to say it is freaking awesome little CUV. I would want this as a Black ICE paint job, black chrome edition with a turbo V6 AWD. A Modern Typhoon edition. Yet everyone says it must change to better fit into the family profile. WHY WHY WHY, Why can we not have a family profile that still does give awesome style.

So is it just me or has VW been on a bloat diet with all their cars getting bigger/fatter/heavier? Or is this due to the stupid pedestrian safety requirements of Europe? The socialist drive to get everyone the same on mass transit and make all cars look the same is just stupid.

Very Beautiful car, but for the state of the world economy and the US in twists till we see what happens in Nov, I would actually wait for the instant gratification, pay off your current debt, save up a little more and you will find another perfect car for you. When the time is right, it will all fall into place. Do not let emotions control your finances, you will thank me as I know how hard it is to now jump on a dream auto. My gut also tells me we will see depressed auto prices this winter as food costs rise. Hopefully the request to remove the Ethanol requirement for gas companies will help to keep food prices low, but then fuel prices will rise and when they do, V8 powered auto's like this one will drop in price even more.

So lets take this to a marketing win for the US! Holden VE Ute is sold as the NEW CHEVY El Camino Hybrid! AWD Hybrid drive train perfect for those weekend warriors who want to go up the mountain to hit it with their Dirt Bikes, weekend get away camping, haul the Home Depot flower bed supplies and yet still be more car like, easier to park and fit the City life style better than a brute full size Pickup Truck. This way you have Green Credentials and a win win Life style marketing message.

Interesting layout, reminds me of the Chevy's. I do not see this as a luxury car, but just a normal Chevy competition.

Was at PSE (Puget Sound Energy) today in Bellevue where they had an alternative energy show for businesses, governments and individuals. Handed out lots of business cards. Saw this car finally in person and was able to sit in it and check it out. First, they built it for small people in comparison to me. Had to recline to actually sit in it and no way anyone could sit behind me. Fit and Finish was amazing but then for a hand built car of little production I would expect it to be. Funny part was someone else asked about the fires and the rep said it was nothing, just a little fix in a fan and then he changed it to other topics and focused on the long range it gets compared to other electric cars. Still the price is a limiting factor for most people and a useless car for businesses.

I would not call it junk, but I think it is far more experimental than they are willing to admit. Better yet is if they would sell their 300 Mile range battery technology to GM or Ford so it could go into mass production that everyone can have access too. If they want people to move off Petrol and onto something else, then they got to get it to the masses, not the 1%.

I do not think Jeeves has to ask for the BP card, this person already has his own card supplied by the employer and knows to keep ti fueled, polished and stocked for what ever whim comes their way.